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MEC title metadata

Title metadata contains title, synopsis, runtime, genre, director, cast, ratings, and other relevant production information used by customers to make a viewing decision. Metadata can be delivered in localized and original language versions and must be delivered according to the MovieLabs Media Entertainment Core (MEC) specification v2.6 using Amazon-specific requirements below.

Our customer experience is supported by supplemental MEC requirements and attributes which differ from MovieLabs. Prime Video required fields and vocabulary applicable to our unique implementation of MEC are summarized below. We expect content providers and their representatives to submit accurate MEC data that adheres to Prime Video requirements. Non-compliant MEC submissions will result in redelivery requests.

The following sections provide an explanation for delivery standards, television content structure, and field list entries required to successfully deliver MEC title metadata to Prime Video.

The XSD and documentation for this specification can be downloaded in our sample file package. MEC file submissions are subject to file naming rules. Non-adherence to these rules will cause delivery errors.

MEC: Metadata delivery standards

Changes to existing MEC metadata require use of the ContentID referenced in your original submission. Your most recent submission, based on language-LOCALE code and delivery timestamps, is your authoritative submission. We accept partial MEC delivery for each unique language-LOCALE code without overwriting previous submissions.

If you deliver MEC metadata for the same language-LOCALE as a previous submission, your latest contribution overwrites your previous submission for that language-LOCALE.

Note: ContentID, WorkType, and ParentContentID values are fixed with the first submission. Re-submitting MEC metadata with different values than the ones included in the initial submission will result in a delivery error.

MEC: Television content structure

For television content, MEC title metadata doesn't permit delivery of all episodes of a season to be consolidated into a single MEC XML file. Each episode must be delivered in a unique MEC. Multiple language variants for the same episode can be combined in an individual MEC. Use the ParentContentID field to indicate the season to which an episode belongs.

Prime Video prefers delivery of "Series, Season, and Episode" XMLs simultaneously for non-current, catalog content. If current/active television content and/or when television metadata can't be delivered together, the metadata must be delivered sequentially in the following order: Series, Season, and Episode.

MEC: Field list entries

The table below summarizes MEC fields and Prime Video-specific notes. The Field Name column lists MEC fields and indented fields are sub-categories of the non-indented "parent" field. Attributes for fields are indicated by the @ symbol. Accepted Values lists the acceptable values or value type expected for each field. If left blank, it indicates a string-entry is permitted.

Unless otherwise specified, string inputs are limited to 250 characters. All inputs are limited to UTF-8 characters. Prime Video Usage indicates whether the field is required, optional, or not used by Amazon. The following table and notes are in addition to the documentation and definitions provided by MovieLabs. Should any conflict or tension occur between the two, Prime Video-specific requirements are definitive versus any conflicting data provided by MovieLabs.

Caution: Special characters and accented characters used in the synopsis fields of an MEC file will cause publishing errors. The following entries can be used to correctly reference the associated special characters:

Symbol Enter
< &lt;
> &gt;
& &amp;
' &apos;
" &quot;
| |
. .
# #
/ /
! !

Specifically for Genre, at least one genre is required in at least one LocalizedInfo section. The code for each genre selection must be included in the ID attribute. Three unique genres total are allowed per title. For example, Action – Epic and Action – Historical would count as two genres. See the Genre List for a more complete discussion of genres.

Field Name Definition & Notes Accepted Values Prime Video Usage
BasicMetadata-type
     @ContentID ID of the metadata provided. Should follow the MovieLabs ID best practices. Updates to previously-submitted metadata must include the same ContentID.   Required
          UpdateNum Amazon will use the most recently received file as the latest update as determined by delivery timestamp. Integer Not used
          LocalizedInfo This block includes elements that may be localized. At least one is required.   Required
               @Language Must be a value from the list of Prime Video acceptable Languages.   Required
               @Default Must be included for one instance of LocalizedInfo for the language of original production. Boolean Not used
               TitleDisplay19 19-character limit.   Optional
               TitleDisplay60 60-character limit.   Optional
               TitleDisplayUnlimited 250-character limit. This is the title field used by Amazon. The words "episode" and "season", if used, should always be localized in the same language as the associated synopsis. If this is for season level, then the series name should be included in the season title. A number should also be used to indicate a season.   Required
               TitleSort Title sort is required by the MEC XSD, but isn't used by Amazon. It's permissable to provide empty tags to satisfy the XSD:
<md:TitleSort></md:TitleSort>
  Not used
               ArtReference This is used by Amazon. Artwork must be associated with a title via the art reference section in the MEC file.   Required
                    @Resolution This is the resolution of the image being delivered.   Required
                    @Purpose This is the purpose of the image being delivered.   Required
               Summary190 190-character limit. Summary190 is required by the MEC XSD. If this isn't available, it's permissible to provide empty tags to satisfy the XSD:
<md:Summary190></md:Summary190>
  Optional
               Summary400 400-character limit. This is the synopsis field required by Amazon.   Required
               Summary4000 4,000-character limit.   Optional
               DisplayIndicators Intended to capture information that may affect customer UI. Examples include "CC" (Closed Captions), "DVS", "Premier" (season premier), etc.   Not used
               Genre At least one Prime Video genre, not defined by MEC, in at least one LocalizedInfo section is required. Up to three genre entries allowed for each LocalizedInfo section.   Required
                    @source URL identifying the source of the genre list. If providing genres from multiple lists, distinguish the genre list for each entry using this attribute.   Optional
                    @ID ID code for genre. Required for Amazon genres. See genre list for genre values and codes.   Required
                    @level "0" indicates parent level. "1" indicates sub-genre. Indication of levels isn't required for Amazon genres. Integer Optional
               Keyword Keywords are often culturally specific, so different keywords may exist for different regions. At this time, no keywords are defined.   Not used
               VersionNotes A descriptive statement about the reason why this cut was created or what its content represents with reference to other versions of this work. Don't include information about the language of the title in this field.   Optional
               Region The region(s) where the work is intended to be broadcast or shown.   Optional
                    Country The country where the work is intended to be broadcast or shown. ISO 3166-1 Optional
                    CountryRegion The country-region where the work is intended to be broadcast or shown.   Not used
               OriginalTitle Original title of the content.   Optional
               CopyrightLine Displayable copyright line.   Optional
               PeopleLocal Individuals involved in a localized production of the work (typically voice actors for dubbing). Don't use for localized versions of cast names. Note: See the People section below for the full list of attributes available in the People type.   Optional
               AlternateTitle This section is used to communicate commonly-known alternate titles for content.   Not used
                    @type Various types should be used for the type attribute describing an AlternateTitle element.   Not used
                    @language Alternate titles may include a language attribute to indicate a language different from the language attribute in the parent element.   Not used
          RunLength Specify to at least seconds. Zero is recommended for season and series.   Optional
          ReleaseYear The first year the work was released in any territory.   Required
          ReleaseDate The date of a movie's original theatrical release or original television debut/premiere of a TV series. Format is YYYY-MM-DD. For a movie, this is the first theatrical release date in specified territory. For TV episode, this is the original air date (not the most recent broadcast date). For bundles, utilize the bundle creation date as the release date. For trilogies, utilize the theatrical release of the first movie.   Required
          ReleaseHistory Information about releases of the content.   Required for ReleaseType = Original
               ReleaseType The type of release of the content. Original, Broadcast, DVD, Blu-ray, PayTV, InternetBuy, InternetRent, Theatrical, SVOD. Enumerated Required for Release History
                    @wide Indicates a wide release, particularly for theatrical. Boolean Not used
               DistrTerritory Country code for distribution territory. ISO 3166-1 Required for Release History
               Date May include year, full date or date and time. Provide as much specificity as available.   Required for Release History
                    @scheduled Indicates date is scheduled. Boolean Not used
               Description Description of the release.   Optional
               ReleaseOrg Organization involved with the release for the release history.   Optional
                    @organizationID Organization’s unique ID.   Optional
                    @idType ID scheme used for organizationID.   Optional
                    @role Role of the associated organization.   Optional
                    DisplayName A string that will be displayed when referring to this group.   Required for ReleaseOrg
                    SortName Sortable version of name. If the display name and the sort name are the same, the SortName element may be excluded.   Optional
                    AlternateName Other names for this organization.   Optional
          WorkType Type of the work. Prime Video accepts movie, episode, promotion, season, series. Enumerated Required
          WorkTypeDetail More specific definition of WorkType to allow a more detailed description.   Optional
          PictureColorType Color type of asset.   Not used
          PictureFormat A textual description of the aspect ratio format type. This field doesn't contain the actual aspect ratio.   Not used
          Aspect Ratio Aspect ratio of active pixels.   Not used
          AltIdentifier The ID used in the avail must also be included here with the appropriate namespace (EIDR or ORG).   Required
               Namespace Accepted values: EIDR, ISAN, IMDB, ORG. Exactly one ID of either EIDR or ORG must be included and its Identifier value must correspond to the ALID from the MMC and the AltID from the Avail.   Required
               Identifier This value must be the ID string only and not a MovieLabs ID URN. For example, provide "manchester" instead of "md:contentid:org:amazon:manchester"   Required
               Location Provide URI to lookup the id (e.g., EIDR or IMDB link)   Optional
          RatingSet Provide all ratings available. If content has been rated in some territories but not all, include available ratings only and don't include a reference to the not rated territories. If at least one rating has been provided, don't use the NotRated field. Alternatively, if content hasn't received a rating in any territory, a NotRated field must be included under <md:RatingSet>.   Required
               Rating Content rating.   Required
                    Region The region(s) where rating applies.   Required
                         Country ISO country code of applicable country where rating applies ISO 3166-1 Required
                         CountryRegion The country-region(s) where rating applies.   Not used
                    System The values provided in the System and Value fields should conform to the common metadata ratings provided by MovieLabs.   Required
                    Value See the note above in the System field.   Required
                    Reason Reasons for the rating (e.g., violence).   Optional
               NotRated If content hasn't received a rating in any territory, a NotRated field must be included per the below:
<md:RatingSet>
    <md:NotRated>true</md:NotRated>
</md:RatingSet>

Please note "true" is case sensitive.
Boolean Required if no Ratings provided
                    @condition Indicates why the content isn't rated.   Optional
               IsAdult Indication of adult content. There is no standard definition of this flag and it's used at the discretion of the licensor. Boolean Optional
          People Include Actor, Director, and Producer entries, as applicable. Amazon requires at least one Director for movies and at least one job function for TV. Maximum 100 entries.   Required
               Job Description of job.   Required for People
                    JobFunction Role in production of media. Prime Video accepts Director, Producer, Actor, Writer and Creator.   Required for People
                    JobDisplay Displayable version of role.   Not used
                         @language Language of JobDisplay.   Not used
                    BillingBlockOrder Order of listing, starting with 1. If missing, implies infinity and may be listed in any order. Integer Optional
                    Character For Actor entries, what role(s) they are playing.   Optional
                    Guest Whether this is a guest role. Boolean Optional
               Name This section defines person identification for the purposes of metadata.   Required for People
                    DisplayName Name of the person identified. May provide multiple entries with the language attribute to provide localizations of the name where appropriate.   Required for People
                         @language Note that if a language attribute isn't supplied for DisplayName, the language identified in OriginalLanguage will be assumed. Also, if you supply a language that doesn't match any language provided in the LocalizedInfo section, the People DisplayName won't be displayed.   Optional
                    SortName Name used to sort. May be excluded if identical to DisplayName.   Optional
                         @language Language of SortName.   Optional
                    FirstGivenName First name   Optional
                    SecondGivenName Second name   Optional
                    FamilyName Family name   Optional
                    Suffix Suffix   Optional
                    Moniker Alternative name   Optional
               Identifier Assuming there is an identifier associated with the person, this structure holds information about that identifier.   Optional
                    Identifier Identifier associated with this individual within the Namespace.   Required for Identifier
                    Namespace Namespace for Identifier.   Required for Identifier
                    ReferenceLocation Location associated for the identifier within the namespace. This is expected to be an online reference to information about the individual.   Optional
               Gender Gender of the individual.   Optional
          CountryOfOrigin Defined as the "generally accepted country of reference".   Required
               country The country from where the title originates. ISO 3166-1 Optional
               countryRegion The country-region from where the title originates.   Not used
          PrimarySpokenLanguage Language spoken throughout the work. May have more than one.   Optional
          OriginalLanguage Language identified as the original production of the work (i.e. the "OV" language). This is generally the language used for the title treatment and/or credits of the work. Only one value allowed.   Required
          VersionLanguage Used only if the title described is edited for a particular language release. Not common.   Optional
          AssociatedOrg One entry with organizationalID = Prime Video Partner Alias and role value = "licensor" is required.   Required
               @organizationalID Unique ID for the organization. Prime Video-provided Partner Alias should be included here.   Required
               @idType ID scheme used for the organizationalID. Not required if @role= "licensor." Acceptable for other entries.   Optional
               @role One entry with the value of "licensor" is required. "LSP" is also accepted to identify an LSP delivery.   Required
               DisplayName Organization name - human readable. This is required by the XSD but not Prime Video.   Optional
               SortName Sortable version of name organization.   Optional
               AlternateName Alternative name of name organization.   Optional
          SequenceInfo Sequence information for seasons and episodes.   Required for WorkType episode or season.
               Number This is the sequence number that will be used by Amazon to order episodes within seasons and seasons within series. If episodes were intended to be 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, then they would have Number values of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Integer Required for WorkType episode or season.
               DistributionNumber A flexible, but mainly numeric, representation of the sequence of release within a set or season as used in distribution.   Not used
                    @domain The namespace domain for the element.   Not used
               HouseSequence Identifier used internally for the asset. This might not be ordered the same as Number and is general in format allowing the inclusion of season or other information.   Not used
                    @domain The namespace domain for the element.   Not used
               AlternateNumber Another identifier by which this item is known, e.g., a number used by a distributor, such as a network, that doesn't fall into the above definitions.   Not used
                    @domain The namespace domain for the element.   Not used
          Parent The parent metadata object.   Required for worktype "Promotion", "episode" or "season".
               @relationshipType "isepisodeof" = Episode of a season, "isseasonof" = Season of a series, "ispromotionfor" = Bonus or promotional material for a season (i.e. trailers, season recaps, behind the scenes, etc.) These should have a work-type of "promotion." Enumerated Required for Parent
               ParentContentID ContentID of the parent. e.g., for an episode, this would be the ContentID of the season metadata.   Required if parent metadata isn't provided
               [Parent metadata] Nested parent metadata information. This is accepted by Prime Video.   Required if ParentContentID isn't provided
          mdmec:CompanyDisplayCredit At least one entry for CompanyDisplayCredit is required. This provides the customer-facing studio credit line. May be optionally localized by language and by territory. A single line limited to 250 characters is supported for any given language or territory.   Required
               DisplayString Customer-facing company credit line.   Required
                    @language Language of DisplayString. If blank, then all languages.   Optional
               Region Region for which credit applies.   Optional
                    Country Country for which credit applies. ISO 3166-1 Optional
                    Countryregion Country-region for which credit applies.   Not used
               DisplaySequence Order of display. Lower-numbered entries are displayed before higher-numbered entries. Integer Optional

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